On The Media Lizzy Show today, I’ll be talking with Vets for Freedom Chairman & Executive Director Pete Hegseth. On tap: the G20 meeting, the Obama Administration’s deep Defense budget cuts, the new Commander-in-Chief’s visit to Iraq, and where America goes from here.

Also, the Political Threesome rides again… I have AOL News’ Tommy Christopher and Caleb Howe all lined up for a raucous roundtable. As in, did President Obama bow to Saudia Arabia’s King Abdullah? (The answer is yes but, Robert Gibbs & unnamed White House sources are telling you not to believe your lyin’ eyes)

In a resounding vote today, MoveOn.org Political Action’s members nationwide voted to endorse Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President. The group, with 3.2 million members nationwide and over 1.7 million members in Super Tuesday states, will immediately begin to mobilize on behalf of Senator Obama. The vote favored Senator Obama to Senator Clinton by 70.4% to 29.6%.

Senator Obama warmly accepted the nod, also from their press release:

“In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up. From their principled opposition to the Iraq war – a war I also opposed from the start – to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change. I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead.”

Obama’s gotta do what he’s gotta do to beat Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democrat primary. Everyone understands, and encourages that. But it has some consequences:

1. Independents & undecided Republicans have been given permission to vote McCain.

2. MoveOn.org is toxic to moderates – this will be an endorsement the eventual Republican nominee will hold Obama accountable for. And it will turn off socially moderate national security hawks, who might have otherwise given Obama a chance.

3. By getting in bed with MoveOn.org – all that talk of the “United States” is officially, just talk.

Democrats are voting in South Carolina. Republicans continue to fight for frontrunner status in Florida. And this may be the ugliest election cycle in memory. If I controlled the world, I would force every voter and consultant to read THE CHOICE by George Parker at The New Yorker. As we all prepare for the results… and get ready for analysis:

Forgive me. But I remain skeptical of Hillary Rodham Clinton. I don’t believe in the “truce” called on the race / civil rights issue. The implicit racism, the threatening undertones, the carefully choreographed victimology – all leading to the South Carolina primary later this month.

There, Democratic primary voters are split almost 50-50 between white and black voters. I do not expect folks outside of the Old South to understand, though many of you do, that what is truest about the Clinton Surrogate vitriol – is that now, Hillary’s campaign assured themselves of a true 50-50 split. Needing only a fraction of the others to carry the day.

While the media focus has been an attempt to divine what black voters will do… the Clinton campaign focused on getting Bubba to the polls. The only word missing from the last ten days of Clinton v. Obama was: Uppity. I am ashamed that so many are misled by so few. Twas ever thus, I know. But that does not make it right, just, or palatable.

Because we are all being forced to eat Bill & Hillary’s bullshit politely with a knife and fork does not diminish – that in fact – it is bullshit.

Pardon my vulgarity but… alas – vulgar people must be described honestly.

Consultants, more powerful than you may imagine, manipulate enormous amounts of data that include voting habits and consistency, every demographic conceivable. Hard “R” Republicans. Hard “D” Democrats. Graduate degree. No degree. Professional. Service sector.

Every campaign ad, every ounce of spin provided to the press corps is carefully choreographed to elicit specific response on election night. In my mind, choosing the next president is a bit like seducing a new lover. Especially when it comes to the women’s vote. We want our candidate to want it – and we MUST want him (or her) in return— otherwise, women will just vote “safe.”

It is the electoral equivalent of settling down with the predictable guy. Trading passion for stability. In the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq war – the electorate is hungry for calm. Not peace, because the word infers resolution – something we may never achieve. But a calm, less violent and intrusive time is something many Americans are hungry for.

But which candidate is the “safe” one? Hillary. Hands down. Double entendre, intended. Why Hillary? Because we know how her husband governed. We know what types of folks she will surround herself with. And if the voters are scared, they will vote for the status quo. It is predictable and tangible. Given the historic low approval numbers of President George Walker Bush and the US Congress – women are ready to be reckoned with.

In a nutshell. We are ready for the finale. A word to the powerful consultants, and those who cover this election, this election is about authenticity – but not for the bland reasons you may suspect.

Our society has become increasingly coarse. The pop-tart phenomenon, the heroin-chic rockers, TMZ, reality TV confessional has almost eclipsed our desire for mystery, seduction and courtship. Political punditry is almost grotesque. Folks who have never dropped a piece of literature, worked the phones for a swing precinct, or created questions for a statewide poll, have somehow leaped to the front of the line as “experts.”

Here’s the thing… for those who crave seduction – the last place where we find something elusive and interesting, is election night. For practitioners, it is not the vote counts… it is the personal relationships inside of the political bubble. We map each other… going beyond the Alex Gage Microtargeting Formula… beyond the Jan Van Lohuizencrosstabs… beyond the Swift Boat footage… beyond the issues and responsibilities of governance and… ESCAPE.

Women voters are tired of all the machinations. In 2006, they took scalps on election night. They threw Republicans and all their hypocrites (except for Hastert, who is THANKFULLY stepping down, albeit a year late) out on their collective arse.

2008 will be even more so. We are all voters this cycle. Hillary is definitely beatable. But, whether it is her primary opponents – or a Republican in the General Election – the men running for president have to understand a few things about seduction… Americans need to fall in love again, we are fatigued from the Iraq War… terrorism… and constant sniping. We want inspiring. We want the political equivalent of “The One.”

BarackObama and Fred Thompson were supposed to be love at first sight. Obama drew comparisons to both John and Robert Kennedy. Thompson was supposed to be the second coming of Reagan. Instead, the men were great at the beginning – but the finale failed to produce a satisfying climax. Maybe the length of the election cycle has spoiled us for enjoying the courtship phase. Life is fast paced. We are all busy.

McCain is past his due date. Rudy Giuliani… is well, a one night stand everyone regrets from 2000.

Mitt Romney is promiscuous when it comes to policy. He’s had a one nighter with every microtarget Pro-Gay Marriage then Anti-gay marriage amendment. Pro-choice, pro-life, anti-gun, pro-gun – remember the varmints! – he’s against socialized medicine but brags about passing a governmental mandate for healthcare. He’s against hot the war in Iraq was prosecuted, but supports the surge, sort of. He can’t take us all to bed. He can’t marry six or seven different policies. It’s against the law to be a polygamist. Just ask Warren Jeffs.

Joe Biden is sexy and safe – but not well known enough to survive. Although I have little doubt, given a chance that he would satisfy the female voter’s appetite for authenticity, gravitas, tangible solutions and charm.

Whether behind the closed curtain in the voting booth, or behind closed bedroom doors… women voters want a little dance, a nice flirt, real desire. There is a hunger for more than wham, bam. And if the male candidates can’t deliver that – women won’t vote for a man. They’ll sign up for the sisterhood and vote Hillary. She’s got Billy, and if women want a promiscuous guy – who better than an old boyfriend to satisfy the craving?

Frankly, 2008 is a lot like the Cell Block Tango from Chicago. Use your imagination to cast the roles. This column has a few hints.

Like this:

Yeah, today’s show was going to be all about 2008. But I have changed my mind.

Here is what plagued my mind this weekend:

The Department of Defense and our Armed Forces are the ones on the front lines. The divisions between the military and the State Department are legendary, long-standing, and being reinforced daily.

We finally have allies with solid rock star diplomats. Is anyone cooler than France’s Bernard Kouchner, a co-founder of Doctors without Borders? I don’t think so.

The European stage has completely changed. The election of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the straight-up bravado of Russian President Vladmir Putin, the urgency in Turkey – the bridge to the Middle East. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is proving a tough customer but a faithful fighter in global counter-terror efforts.

Our Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has out-boxed every one of President George Walker Bush’s original team /cclose confidants. Slowly but surely, those he once danced with disappeared. Joe Allbaugh was an early casualty. The departure of Karen Hughes will someday be seen as the moment President Bush went from being the man 8 million volunteers coalesced around to being Condi’s “intense personal” friend. Ari Fleischer. (have they had a comm plan since Karen & Ari left?) Dan Bartlett, the longest serving aide to Bush, departed. He was followed by the final player in the Iron Triangle. (Allbaugh, Hughes, Rove) It took a little longer to get rid of Karl but his power was diminished the minute Hughes left. Rice outlasted many cabinet officials… John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales, Colin Powell, and of course – Donald Rumsfeld. Only Vice President Cheney remains – thanks to the US Constitution.

I reject the notion that Cheney and Rumsfeld were the most powerful, most influential advisers to President Bush. Read Condoleezza’s own words, she is more “inside” the Bush bubble than anyone else. No statement from the White House Press Office quashes Rice’s claims to Glenn Kessler and others. Frankly, in the Fox News Channel’s special on VP Dick Cheney – the President himself said that Cheney is not as, or no more influential, than Condi Rice.

However… politics at that level is a different ballgame. Even as a Cabinet Secretary – it’s still just a staff position. There are players there that are practically the undead. They understand that when it comes to real power – one never discloses the nature or intensity of any relationship, ever.

It looks desperate. And it is the last thing that happens before the spider web starts to tremble. From hunter to prey, SNAP.

It is the diplomatic portfolio that is a catastrophic failure. Iraq. Armenian genocide. Turkish troops on the Kurdistan/Iraq border. Nuclear facilities in Syria – interfering in Israeli national security and interests. Palestinian statehood. Getting blown off by the Vatican. Iran’s 3,000 centrifuges and nuclear weapons. North Korea’s broken promises. Islamic extremism. Darfur. Carving up Jerusalem. Issuing Jordanian passports. Debt forgiveness. Characterizing herself as having an “intense personal relationship” with the President of the United States.

What, specifically, has Condi Rice accomplished on behalf of the United States of America, or our Allies, that is tangible – real – provable? A true lady would never carry herself in a way that invites comparisons to being a courtesan. A lady keeps her fetishes behind closed doors. Any woman who brings Wallis Simpson to mind is not a lady, and does not appropriately represent the USA.

The good news: men not under the spell are beginning to go on the record, get real, and say what needs to be said. Forget fear. It is time to stop equivocating. Thank you, Ricardo Sanchez.